10 February 2011

A Few of My Favorite Bargains–Updated

Who doesn’t love a lit a la polonaise? This picture is from World of Interiors via Trouvais (thanks Trish!) The problem with these beds is you need quite a lot of money to recreate this look.

The French just do design better than anyone. Recreating this bed, though, is out of the budget for most of us.

So beautiful – new or old.

From The Selby HERE, Herve Pierre used a checked fabric, a relatively inexpensive choice, to decorate his bedroom. Of course, the bed is pricey, but by choosing a reasonable fabric, you can keep the expense down. Gorgeous? Not him! The bed!!!!

If the lit a la Polonaise is definitely out of the question, a less expensive choice is the Italian Campaign bed. I first fell in love with this bed when I saw Mimmi O’Connell’s work. She’s been using variations of this bed, with and without the draping, for decades.

The Group Sibuet hotel in Provence uses an assortment of campaign beds in their rooms.

While original campaign beds are hard to come by, Niermann Weeks has two new versions. Here, Phillip Sides used a beautiful Brunschwig and Fils blue check to decorate this NW bed.

And Mario Buatta used the same Niermann Weeks iron bed here in an luscious room, typical of his opulent style. But, what if NW is out of your price range?

Anthropologie HERE makes this wonderful copy – at a fraction of the cost. Here, the frame is left bare which shows of its beautiful oval top.

And, if you are really on a strict budget, Pottery Barn Teen HERE has this version. Here, Grant Gibson uses the PBTeen bed in his own apartment. He installed a back headboard to rest upon. Unfortunately, to everyone’s distress, PBTeen discontinued this bed for a year or two. Recently, they brought it back. I wonder if they listened to the blogger backlash over this discontinuation?

Recently, my partner on the Skirted Roundtable, Linda Merrill, used the Anthropologie bed in this young girls room. She also installed head and back rests for safety reasons. Read the story of this adorable makeover HERE.

For my own daughter’s makeover, I also used the Anthropologie bed, in the twin size. At the time, the PBTeen bed was discontinued. Truthfully, I would have saved the money and used that bed had it been available, although I do like the Anthropologie bed better.

I did not install the head or foot board. The pillows do a good enough job to keep Lizzy in the bed, but it’s a nice sized gap and the headboard is probably a good idea.

PRICES:

The Pottery Barn Teen bed runs from $699 to $999, for the queen – no king size available. These prices are crazy cheap! What a chic look for not a lot of money!

The Anthropologie bed runs from $1,250 for a twin to $1800. for a king. Still reasonable, but more expensive than the PBTeen.

Niermann Weeks – this iron bed retails for around $9,900.00. Now, that is retail. Depending on your contract with your interior designer, you may pay a lot less or even more.

This Niermann Weeks bed retails for around $12,000.00 Hmmm. It is beautiful, no doubt. It is probably much sturdier too. The gap in the headboard is no issue here. You get what you pay for. But, before you ask, I am very happy with the quality of the Anthropologie bed.

Ektorp Slipcovered Furniture:

If you read this blog, you know I think that Ikea’s Ektorp slipcovered furniture line is the best bargain out there. For those with almost no budget at all, this furniture gives you a great look and leaves you with no excuse not to have a well designed space! Case in point, these Ikea Ektorp chairs paired with two wicker PB chairs look wonderful. I love when I spy Ektorp furniture on the internet or when people send me pictures of their spaces using these pieces. The white slipcovered sofa is just $399 – an unheard of price. I also like the new gray slips, slightly higher at $599 for the sofa. I would mix the gray with the white pieces, but all gray pieces is great, also.

Jenny Grumbles from Uptown Country, the cute online shop HERE, used the Ektorp sofa and chairs in her pink and white Dallas apartment.

Recently, while looking at houses for rent in Provence, I was surprised to come upon the Ektorp gray slipcovered furniture in Provence – one of the chicest area in the world to live in. Now, I do realize this house could use some styling:

Like this one. This rental in Provence shows the same gray slips with styling.

An Ikea Makeover:

BEFORE:

A few weeks ago, the blogger Holly Mathis HERE from nearby Hempstead, Texas, showed a redo she had just completed for an online client. The client lives in Austin with a hodge podge collection of family room furniture she was ready to repurpose. Since they were on a tight budget, Holly came up with some cost saving ideas.

BEFORE: Some of the furniture was reused, and other pieces were moved out the of living room.

AFTER:

Holly had her client buy the Ikea Ektorp slipcovered furniture and the change was drastic! The curtains were made with fabric bought online. The chairs were moved from another room and the ottoman/coffee table is new, as is the rug. Notice the chandelier – that’s from Ballard Designs for just $299! Yes!

AFTER:

Holly had the client paint the armoire a blue gray which makes all the difference. To read about this redo, see Holly Mathis Interiors HERE.

The fixture they used in the living room is new from Ballard Designs and comes in two sizes for just $199 and $299. HERE. Holly used the bigger size. I was surprised to see how large it looked in the room. It’s a lot of look for just $299.

Lanterns:

Holly also recently redid her dining room. For a while it was being used as a bedroom after her new baby arrived. I love how it looks now and how she tied it in with the kitchen by using the printed curtains and repainting the kitchen the dusty pink which is found in the curtains. But what really caught my eye was the lantern! It’s fabulous.

Holly’s kitchen. So charming!

Her office space off her kitchen and next to the dining room. I love her desk with its linen skirt.

So, where DID Holly buy her new lantern from? The yoke is what makes it really authentic looking.

It’s from Pottery Barn for just $349. Amazing! While the lantern comes with a copper top, Holly painted hers all black. I would use this lantern everywhere – in the foyer, the living room, the dining room, kitchen, bedroom or library. You can tell from Holly’s dining room picture that the scale is big enough that the lantern makes a statement. Personally, I love the copper detailing, but Holly didn’t.

Another great Pottery Barn lantern is this model for $499. Slightly more expensive, it’s still so much cheaper than the antique versions.

Until the PB Lantern came out, this was my favorite budget lantern. Shown here in Lauren Liess’ office, this lantern is just $139, HERE.

If you have any great budget favorites or makeovers – email me!

COTE DE TEXAS SPONSOR NEWS:

Last week, I showed a house that Pam Pierce designed 8 years ago, that is now for sale. One of the CdT sponsors, Bonny Neiman Antiques had some fun with that story.

She took every picture from the Pam Pierce designed house and showed how her own antiques tied in with the story. So, if you were interested in recreating that look, please read this story – it’s really interesting and informative and fun! Go HERE to read it.

Another CdT sponsor, The Bella Cottage is having a sale. Go HERE to read all about it.

These chairs are new addition to the Bella Cottage and I just love these!!!! They remind me of the chair in Elisabeth’s room. I really like just a just of gilt in living room and bedrooms.

And finally, I was sooooo excited to see that Charlotte Moss has a new book coming out in April. I love the cover picture – all the green is so trendy right now.

To pre-order your copy from Amazon, click on the title to the right of the picture below:

65 comments:

Loved your comments on the versitility of the iron beds. In the home and guesthouse I am doing we chose the Anthropologie bed.Anthropologie bed and we did the Arte Pura linens with it. The bed is darling,,,,,makes the room. Nice comparisons there! Maryanne xo

I have an Ektorp sofa, well a KNOCK-OFF Ektorp lol Received it as a gift from my sweet friend here, we got it at the thrift for next to nothing and I ♥ LOVE ♥ it . It it SO comfy and looks great in my shabby chic interior. My bed has a valence I made myself some time ago ♥ it too haha.

Those gilded chairs are indeed very elegant, and especially so with the white fabric. The same would apply to a bench. One or two pieces like that scattered around a design scheme really scream expensive, and they would work well in a relatively modern scheme.

We're house shopping, and I have the pb and ballard lighting in my file already, along with the Anthro campaign bed.

Joni, this was beautiful and fun, and I think you've touched on something really important: There are so many GOOD affordable options these days, and so much helpful info on thrifting and makeovers, I hope it encourages people to look at their homes differently. Everyone should have a pretty space to live. It's always encouraged me to help other people to have their own pretty space - it's contagious and inspires good deeds, I tell ya.You do a terrific service here, on many levels.

Joni: The lanterns truly are a great look at a great price point. I am guilty of passing PB by because sometimes I get in my mind that their look is too predictable, but your post has opened my mind. Just goes to show that we have to look under every rock to be sure we find the best style for the best price. Thanks for the heads up!

What a wonderful ray of sunshine your blog is! I've been considering replacing my sofa with an Ektorp one and buying a couple of slipcovers (white, of course) so that I can wash frequently enough. That, or I'll try to make a white linen slipcover for my old sofa. (Would that I were really a seamstress...) I can't thank you enough for your inspiration!

Hi Joni. How I wish I could drape my daughter's Anthropologie bed with some painter's canvas. Or Calico Corners had a beautiful open weave neutral linen with gold detail (from Italy). But her walls are still a deep saffron yellow and I want her still to feel "at home" whenever she's here. So...the bed stay's un-draped. Love that mirror and chair in Lizzy's room. XO Trish

So many things to love in this post. The Anthropologie bed is yummy, your daughter's room is gorgeous. Love the colors. Was thinking about these for my bedroom. Could you share wall colors, etc. Did you already do that in another post? Holly's house is absolutely adorable. I want to live there! Of course the more lanterns the better. Finally, the green on the Charlotte Moss book must come to my house soon. I'm full of ideas (or full of something anyway)! Stay warm!

I'm in Australia and unfortunately don't have access to the beautiful Pottery Barns and Anthropologie furnishings :(

I do have an Ikea and wanted to take your advise on the Ektorp range, whilst I know how much the look is loved in this blog, how have people found comfort and quality? I certainly don't expect it to be a family heirloom but would like for it to last a decent amount of time.

I just loved this post. You are right, Joni, no excuse for an ugly home any longer! I just purchased the Eldridge Pendants from Ballard Designs for my living and kitchen areas. They are a knock-off of the Brown lights and the Restoration Hardware Filament lights. Would have loved to have been able to afford Brown's but was not in my budget. Thanks for sharing!

Fantastic post Joni. I love the beds and love any bed that is draped or curtained. I wish I had ordered the PB queen for my pool house bedroom I'm re doing right now. I ended up with Restoration Hardware's French Academie bed but would have loved a canopy. I'm so close to ordering the PB lantern too. I want to put it in my entry but can also see it in the kitchen and on and on! I savored this post and managed to drink my entire cup of coffee reading it. Great start for the day! ~Delores

Great post, as usual. I've been eyeing the Anthropologie bed for several years - first for our master (we decided to go with a four poster) and then for my teenage daughter - who hasn't decided what she wants - what's new?! The Pottery Barn is a great alternative but still prefer the other. And the furniture and lanterns - all great finds as well.

Joni, what a fun post and such great examples of what I call "LLM" looks-like-more!!! I try to do this all the time in this economy. There are just certain items you can get away with going less expensive and you have shown that good style/taste does not have to cost a lot. Love the lanterns!!! Kathysue

Love the post. Great information, AGAIN!!! I'm ordering Charlotte's book right now. I'm in love with the green velvet chair and pillows on the cover. I'm getting ready to reupholster a chair and ottoman in a similar green velvet for my family room right now. I have wavered a little . One look at that cover seals the deal. thanks!

I love the beds and wish I could sway the husband over to one but I don't think it'll happen but maybe for our guest bedroom. Where have I been PB looks to have some fabulous lighting I am going to have to go check them out. Love the before and after by Holly, really amazing! What a wonderful and informative post that I need to come back to over and over just to check everything out!

This is how we all should do... look for beautiful bargains! Even I could, I would not spend $ 12,000 on a bed. I spent $ 5,000 for my new bed/ mattress and I think it was more than necessary. We need to find beautiful things made with great materials, but that we cab actually afford. I love seeing designer furniture but I know that something things are totally overpriced. Not worth it, really.

I know for sure we can (and should) have a gorgeous house saving money, choosing things on sale and finding unique pieces even in garage sales. The smart thing is to keep looking, just as you did!

Great job, Joni! Really!!!

Please, drop by my blog... you won't belive the CREEPY post I've reserved for tomorrow (Friday)..lolHave you heard of my "Cool or Fool" Fridays yet? Go take a look tomorrow. It's where we judge the world of design... It's really fun!

I have an ektorp sofa. It's not in a room I use every day, but when I sit there, it's great. And my kids haven't ruined it, and they use it often. The cushion have some down in them, too. I use a red cover because it co-ordinates with my molas.

Dear Tex, I've seen your blog on others blog rolls for some time now and have even taken a peak here and there. Today I am a convert, you've won me over with your updated favorite bargains. I'll be adding you to the list of blogs I follow closely. I am so very eager to see what treasures you share with us, thanks for the inspiration. P.S I am head over heels in love with every aspect of your daughters bedroom!

Hi Joni- I was so excited to see that you featured some of Holly's work. I too was in awe of the lantern in her dining room and also considered ordering the ballard fixture she put in a clients home for myself. xo~T

I ordered the pb teen bed for my daughter about a month ago and have been playing around with different ideas since it arrived. This post came at the perfect time! My favorite picture is your daughter's room. Fabulous! You are the best, Joni. Thank you.

I was lucky and found the PB Teen bed on Craigslist. I had to drive 150 miles to pick it up. Total cost $150.00 including gas for the twin size. My daughter has an antique french daybed now, but I figure she will want something else down the road and I will be ready.

Most of those beautiful canopied beds are BIG dust collectors and bad for people with allergies. But of course if you can afford the bed you are not really doing the cleaning or dusting you are just crackin the whip!!!!

SO much wonderful inspiration, Joni! You're truly generous to do so much research for your posts and then distill the information down into an amazing design digest, with stunning images to illustrate all the ideas and suggestions you share.

I loved SO many of the beds you showed us, and yes French design tends to be divinely inspired! The Holly Mathis family room makeover was amazing -- her clients must have been thrilled!

Where did you get the spa blue curtains and pillows in your daughter's room? If they are custom do you know any details about the fabric? I'm trying to find the perfect calming blue for my bedroom drapes, but I have had no luck in Alabama.

I LOVE your daughter's bedroom. The chair, the angel -- the details are perfect and the overall effect is serene, elegant, and so welcoming that I'm thinking "Didn't that daughter go off to college? Maybe Joni will start a bed & breakfast so I can stay in that room. I hear there's good shopping in Texas..." :-)

Also, thanks for the great bargain recommendations! In this economy more than ever, you have to save money where you can to stretch each project budget as far as possible. I think I just found a lantern for my laundry room.

Your Daughter's RoomThank you for posting the picture of your daughter's room again. I saw it a while ago and it is truly, truly beautiful. I'm using the inspiration to turn my own bedroom into a sitting room of sorts.

Draping a bedDraping beds was a necessity in unheated spaces, but that's no longer an issue.

I can see the luxury in the draped beds, but I also see myriad problems. First, of course, is the cost of doing it. Second, the cost of cleaning the fabrics (mitigated when one does washable fabrics). Third, this is not a viable solution for anyone who lives with even mild smog. The fabric will just trap dust and dirt. I would stay away from the draping solely for that reason.

IkeaIkea furniture is designed to look nice, but I promise you that it doesn't last. It gets worn out very quickly. I can see why people who rent out houses and apartments would use Ikea though, since the cost makes the pieces easy to replace.

Beautiful images, and thanks so much for including Niermann Weeks! We welcome your many readers who came to visit our website. While I admit that we are more expensive than the mass market retailers like PB, but our quality is forever.

Thanks for the shoutout about my client's little girl project - real photography to come! They love the Anthro bed. Also, I realized looking at your pics that the headboard and footboard of the PB bed aren't the same height, which would affect the day bed feel. I just love all these images!

I miss my Ektorp sofa that had to be sold when we returned to the US. it served us well for 5 kids, teens, groups, parties and looking good. I have been debating buying another one ... would it be too casual, etc. but your lovely post convinced me. Thanks!

Oh you naughty girl....I should be doing my invoicing right now but all I want to do it move furniture around and paint something! I adore that anthro bed but the Niermann Weeks one makes me, well, week in the knees. I miss interior design when I read a post like this. Luckily I am helping a friend furnish a lake house in Mass this spring so that should get it out of my system...if I can wait that long! Back to my billing!

Oh, I just had to write and tell you how inspired I was by the photos you posted of the French style campaign poster beds. I moved into a new old house in July (it will be my retirement home until I can't live on my own any more, but that's depressing so I don't think about it) and I finally bought a bed I'd always wanted but was too cheap to buy before. Now I'm getting older I thought, what the hell am I waiting for! So I bought a bed on Overstock that looks VERY similar to the Pottery Barn Junior Maison Bed. I have to laugh - at my age, buying something that is a great feature at Pottery Barn Junior, geez! But eternally young at heart, so in the end, I don't give a hoot about it. Thanks to the drop-dead gorgeous and informative photos you posted of some of the draped beds, today I decided to hunt for -- and I found!!!!! -- some inexpensive tie-on curtains that will be long enough to drape luxuriously (so I hope), on my version of the French canopy campaign bed, to add a visual layer of warmth this cold season here (southeastern Wisconsin, we've been experiencing what used to normally be January weather for the past three weeks, sigh) and another layer of "lux" to my very small "mistress" (no "master" in this house) bedroom. They are not the rich materials for draperies that were featured in your photographs, more like thin voile, but I think they will work just fine combined with two walls about 1/2 covered each with ceiling to floor curtains, adding a little something but not being too much for the small room. Thank you thank you thank you!